Can labeling machine



Dec. 10, 1940. c. H. WILD m CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 4Sheets-Sheet 1 swam Charles H M11! Clifford, H Nee:-

Dec. 10, 1940. c. H. WILD arm.

CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Clifford H.Never.

Dec. 10, 1940. c, HWILD Em 2,224,496

CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet s Dec. 10,1940- c; H. WILD ETAL QAN LABELING MACHINE Filed March 28, 19394-Sheets- -Sheet 4 ChcirlS Cliffohzt 11. Ner

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN LABELING MACHINEApplication March 28, 1939, Serial No. 264,516

' 21 Claims. (01. 216-58) The invention relates to a machine forlabeling cans and other cylindrical packages which are passed throughthe machine by rolling in a substantially horizontal direction, passingin turn over the adhesive applying mechanism for the label and over thelabel pack and then over the pressing mechanism. In this operation theadhesive is first applied to the cans or packages, the labels are thenpicked up in turn by the adhesive on the cans or packages, and rolledabout the same, the lap ends of the labels are then secured by adhesivefrom another source, and the labels are finally pressed into closecontact with the cans or packages which are thereafter delivered fromthe machine.

In accordance with the existing practice, cold adhesive or glue ispreferred for use in aflixing the labels in that it does not deteriorateduring the period in which the contents of the cans will be retainedtherein as packed, i. e., during the life of the package but it isdeficient in its adhesive qualities when wet and there is a tendence onthe part of the label to slip as it is picked up. Hot adhesive, on theother hand, has been found particularly efiective on account of itsstrong adhesive qualities which are effective at the time ofapplication. Hot adhesive, however, tends to deteriorate and is notwholly satisfactory as a means for permanently afiixing the labels onaccount of the relatively short duration of its effective life.

The present invention has particular advantages in the application oflabels as to which for any reason it is found essential that slippage ofthe label when it is first picked up shall be prevented.

This prevention of slipping is particularly important in the labeling ofcans of the bail type which have ears for holding the bails betweenwhich the label is located, so it is essential that it be accuratelyplaced. The labels used with the'bail type of can are generally shortlabels applied to one side only but there are other instances of notinfrequent occurrence in which with cans not of the bail type using longor short ears and there must be no slippage, which requirement has addeda considerable percentage to the cost of labeling such cans in the pastand has presented an almost insurmountable difllculty to the labeling ofbail cans by machine in a satisfactory manner.

In accordance with the present invention, two glue pots or adhesiveapplying pots are used at the infeed end of the machine for spotting thecans to prepare them for picking up the labels, there being nodifliculty on account of slippage at the lap end of the label. These twopaste pots or adhesive applying elements are provided with means spacedtransversely of the machine for spotting the adhesive on the cans asthey roll over the'respective adhesive applying units. In the practiceof the present invention, one of these unitssupplies cold adhesive andthe other is heated and supplies hot adhesive. Each of these units hasan applying device which spaces the spots of adhesive on the can in adirection parallel to the axis and transverse to the feed, i. e., to thecan feed, and while the two kinds of adhesive may be otherwise combinedin the pickup operation, it is found most satisfactory to place thespotting devices of one adhesive applying unit in line with the spacesbetween the spotting devices of the other adhesive applying unit so thata single line of alternate spots of two kinds of adhesive is obtained.

Broadly considered the essential principle of this feature of theinvention is that there are two pickup applying units and that one ofthe adhesives as applied by one of the units is of a permanent natureand that. the adhesive applied by the other unit is an adhesive which ishighly efiicient in effecting immediately strongadhesion of the label tothe can, overcoming the tendency to slip as the can rolls forwardly andthe lap end of the label is curled and secured and the label is pressedin accordance with the well known practice.

The pickup spotting units are made adjustable along the machine and theyare fitted with coverplates so that either unit may be usedindependently of the other and the spacing of the spots may be changedto suit conditions and if desired the application of the adhesive may bemade continuous across the entire length of the can in the direction ofits. axis where but one kind of adhesive is to be used or a differentarrangement of the two kinds of adhesive is desired. i

Another difficulty encountered in labeling of cans is due to the factthat the majority of cans containing perishable foodstuffs are vacuumpacked and the walls being extremely thin tend to yield to the airpressure causing the cylindrical walls to become concave. These cans areknown in the trade as panelled or indented cans and they presentdifficulties both in applying pickup adhesive and in the pressing oflabels into close relation with the can to give satisfactory adhesionand a smooth labeling job.

To provide uniform application of pickup adhesive, the rollers by whichthe adhesive is ap plied are, in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the invention, made of highly resilient discs spaced apartto permit them to expand or yield separately to greater extent than asolid roller. In the preferred form shown, these discs are of softrubber and they are to the best advantage provided with holesdistributed about their area and extending through the discs parallel tothe axis. The machine also provides means for conforming the pickup endsof the labels to the indented or panelled cans to give attachment to thecan extending. across the entire end of each label.

The invention also provides means for overcoming the difficulty incidentto pressing the labels on panelled cans. For this latter purpose ahighly resilient pad is placed in the path of the cans inthe areatravelled by the cans after the labels have been picked up and rolledabout the cans in'the position of the usual pressing pad. The pad of thepresent invention is of extremely resilient rubber preferably spongerubber and is grooved or slitted to increase its yielding properties andits resiliency, which causes it to enter the indentations or panelsdescribed giving a satisfactory labeling jog on the panelled orcollapsed can.

It has been found that all the various pressing pads used in the canlabeling art, have a tendency to accumulate adhesive which becomes tackyor hard acquiring strong adhesive properties and this accumulatedadhesive sticks to the labels and tends to displace them and remove themfrom the cans.

To overcome this difficulty, the invention provides means formaintaining the surface of the pad which contacts the can in apermanently moist condition which prevents the adhesive which may comein contact with the pad from adhering to the pad.

In the form of the invention shown, this moistening operation isaccomplished by means of a wick which deposits water on the surface ofthe pad, the water is distributed by grooves or slits provided for thisand other purposes already described and by the action of the cans overthe entire surface of the pad so that it maintains a moist condition tothe entire can contacting surface throughout the period of operation. Y

A still further additional feature of the invention relates to the labelfeed. The use of knife edges at the sides of the top label of the pad toretain the top label in position is a well known expedient practiced formany years. It has been found, however, that in numerous instances thetop label is pierced by one or more of the knife edges and thus becomesreleased and displaced.

The object of this feature of the invention is to provide label holdingmeans by which the top label is held securely till the can rolls over itand easily released as the can picks it up. This holding device has notendency to pierce the edge of the top label or to release itunintentionally as already pointed out and at the same time this newdevice releases the top label freely when picked up and drawn free ofthe pack by the can. The term can has been used for convenience todenote any package which can be labeled by the well known operation towhich the features-of this invention relates.

The machine of the invention is of the general type described in thepatent to Charles H. Wild, No. 1,619,840 of March 8, 1927.

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated a can or similarlabeling machine or so much thereof as is necessary to a fullcomprehension of the construction and operation of the features of theinvention and this application to the machine to which the novelfeatures of the invention in the preferred form have been applied forpurposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. lis a side elevation of a labeling machine to which the inventionis applied for purposes of illustration, the feed of the cans to saidmachine being from left to right.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view, showing the pickup pastespotting rollers, the top of the label pack, the top of the machine,including the feed belt and co-operating elements, including the variousdriving mechanisms, being removed for convenience of illustration, beingnon-essential to this invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the portion of the machinecontaining the pressing pad and the label pack, drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 in'Fig. 1 looking to the left andshowing the cold adhesive unit including the pot and the applyingrollers and an indented can in spotting relation thereto.

Fig. 5 is a view of the rollers removed, a can partly spotted withadhesive being shown in operative relation.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line I 'I in Fig. 1, looking to the left,showing the hot adhesive pot and the rollers therein and the drivegears, the cover being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the rollers removed from the pot and acan in spotting relation thereto.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the discharge end of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the pad removed showing a moistureapplying device of the wick type in connection therewith.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line II II in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of the flexible label holding finger,in the nature 'of a sec- Fig. 3, looking to the right toward theflexible finger which is indicated by reference character 15.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of finger and bracket.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary top plan of the label table showing the contourplate.

Fig. 16 is a section through the same looking to the left from line ISIS.

Fig. 17 is a side view partly in section of the label table shown inFigs. 15 and 16.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicatethe same or similar parts in the different figures, the illustrationFig. 1 shows a can labeling machine, the illustration being to a largeextent diagrammatic or distorted for the purpose of exposing portions-ofthe mechanism which would otherwise be concealed and dimcult toillustrate and understand. The machine as shown includes a base I,having an upright 2, on which are supported the parallel sid'e' bars 3,carrying the ways and guides l and 4', which intervene between theoperating units, i. e., the pickup adhesive units 9 and I0, the labelpack and table II, and the pressing pad l2, the labeling machineconstruction in general being well known.

The machine is driven by a motor 5, shown in Fig. 9 which by a series ofpulleys drives the can belt 6, by which the cans are propelled along themachine as best shown in Fig. 3, the belt being held in contact with thecans by tension memhers I, which is well known-in the can labeling art.

Having reference to Fig. l, the cansare fed to the machine down aninclined track 9, to the left in said figure, coming immediately incontact with the can belt 6, bywhich the cans are fed forwardly throughthe machine. Arranged along the path of the cans from left to right inFig. 1, the drawing shows a cold adhesive applying unit 9 for adhesiveof a permanent nature, a hot adhesive applying unit ill for a quickattaching adhesive, a label table II, and pressing pad l2. At the end ofthe machine at-the right in Fig. 1, is a discharge chute N. Theadhesivea chain l9, which, in turn, drives a pulley or.

sprocket 20, which carries a bevelled ear 2|, which, in turn, drives abevelled gear 22 on th shaft IS. The pulley or sprocket I! also carriesa sprocket 24 which drives a chain 25, which operates the label feed,automatically raising-the table II with a step by step motion, saidautomatic feed which may be of any well known type being indicated byreference character 26, a detailed description of this mechanism whichbelongs to a well known class of mechanisms in this art and which doesnot elate to the present invention is believed to b unnecessary.

The feed belt 6 is driven from motor 5, see Figs. 1 and 9, by chains orbelts a, b, c on suitable sprockets or pulleys a, b, c.

The pickup adhesive applying units are essentially adjustable in thedirection of the length of the machine and the position Fig. 1 isindefinite and changeable to meet various conditions as hereinafterdescribed.

The cold adhesive applying unit is shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6."It comprises an adhesive not 21 secured to and beneath the side bars 3in any suitable manner as by means of cars 28 on the pot secured to theside bars in any suitable manner in a series'of positions. The adhesivepct 21 also carries at its sides brackets 29 providing bearings for theshaft 30 which carries an adhesive applying agent which for conveniencewill be termed a roller, which is shown in the form of the inventionillustrated, as consisting of a series of soft rubber discs 3i. Thediscs are spaced by a preferred distanceby means of collars 32 on saidshaft 39; an indefinite number of discs is supplied. If desired, thecollars may be omitted forming a solid roller. This may be used in theabsence of the hot adhesive applying unit, i. e., when the same isrendered inoperative by placing a cover 59 over it, as hereexposed forcontact with the cans.

inafter described. The spaced discs may be used even under thesecircumstances if desired and the 1 two kinds of pickup adhesives may beotherwise combined than by spaced, stag ered discs. The discs arepreferably made of soft highly resilient material, soft rubber being atthe present considered the best material. To make them more resilient,as shown in Fig. 6, they may be apertured at 33, any suitablearrangement of apertures being contemplated.

The discs are held in position on the shaft by nuts 34 or in anysuitable manner. Adhesive is applied to the discs 3| on shaft 30 orwhatever arrangement may be provided by-means of a transfer roller 35,mounted on a shaft 36, which extends through the walls of the adhesivepct 21 on one side as illustrated and is mounted in minimum thickness bymeans of a scraper ll of a type well known in the art.

In the form of the invention shown, the transfer roller 35 is driven andit not only applies the adhesive to the discs 3! but drives the adhesiveroller or discs 3|. The shaft 36 .carrying the transfer roller 35 isdriven by a bevelled gear 38 splined to and sliding on and driven by theshaft l5 which drives bevelled gear 39 on the shaft 39. Gears 33 and 39are connected together by a suitable bracket and gear 38 may he slidalong the shaft l5 when the adhesive unit is moved, the unit 9 beingadjustably secured to the side bars 3 in various positions of adjustmentin any suitable manner as by screws 29', Fig. 4. Fig. .1 shows a coverplate 40 beneath which the cold adhesive pot 21 may be located when thehot adhesive only is to be used. The plate 40 is removably secured toside bars 3 by means of screws 40' or in any suitable manner.

'li'he provision of spaced resilient rubber or equally resilient rollersin the manner described is particularly important not only in that itprovides for alternate spotting of hot and cold or other quick andpermanent adhesives in the manner outlined in the preamble but theserollers being highly resilient conform to the surface of the panelledcans spotting the adhesive with the desired degree of uniformity withoutregard to the shape which the cans may assume.

In accordance with the practice which has been followed, the spots ofadhesive formed by the cold adhesive applying unit may be from an inchto an inch and a quarter or even an' inch and a half in length, theexact size of the spotsnot being material.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, which may be considered in connectionwith Fig.3 and other 'iigures as Figs. 1 and 2. The hotadhesive applyingunit It comprises an adhesive pot 42 for hot adhesive both kinds ofadhesive being supplied under difierent brands. The pot is in practiceprovided with a heating unit 43, indicated in Fig. 7 and Fig. 1, assupplied with current by way of a cable as. The hot adhesive pct 42 issupplied with a top wall which is open at 4d at the center through whichopening the adhesive applying means shown in the form of discs are Thesediscs 45 may be of metal orany suitable material and they are mounted ona shaft 46 which extends across the pot having bearings in the walls ofthe same. The discs 45 dip in the adhesive therein which adhesive beingheated is kept in a liquid condition and can be handled in this way. Theshaft 46 is driven by bevel gears 41 and 48, see Fig. 7, the gear 41being on the shaft I5. The adhesive pot 42 is adjustable longitudinallyof the machine. For this purpose, the driving gears 41 and 48 as well asthe gears 3'8 and 39 are connected by a suitable bracket 41'. The gear41 is slidable along the shaft I and both gears move adjustably with pot42. The adhesive pct 42 has brackets 42' whereby it is adjustablysupported on the side bars 3.

At this point it may be noted that the shaft 46 is not driven directlyfrom the gears 41 and 48. The latter gear is mounted on a second shaft50 which carries a gear 5|, which drives a gear 52 on the disc drivingshaft 46.

The machine also includes a removable cover plate 59, which may besecured to the side guide 4 in any suitable manner. This plate shieldsthe adhesive from any droppings of dirt and the like when the hotadhesive unit is not in use and carries the cans over this pot withoutcontact with the adhesive applying discs under thes'ame circumstances.

It is of advantage in applying the pickup adhesives of two kinds in themanner above described that the hot adhesive applying discs 45 arespaced along the shaft 46 and are placed opposite, i. e., in line withthe spaces 53, see' Fig. 4, between the discs 3| of the'cold adhesiveunit. In this way alternating spots in the same line are provided by theco-operative action of the two adhesive units. To this end it may benoted that for convenience in illustration, the machine in Fig. 3 hasbeen broken away between the adhesive units, also between the adhesiveunit In and the label table II, making the 'relation of the' two pickupapplying units and the label pack indefinite. In the operation of themachine, due to the rolling of the cans along the ways passing themthrough the machine, it is desirable in order to bring the two sets ofadhesive spots substantially in line that the adhesive units 9 and I0 bespaced by a distance which is approximately the circumference of thecans being labeled, and further that the adhesive unit l0 be spaced fromthe adjacent or infeed end of the label pack or from the point on thetop label to be engaged by the spotted area of the can by a similardistance. Thus in rolling through the machine a can first encounters thecold adhesive applying unit and when it has made a complete revolutionit encounters the hot adhesive applying unit forming at the first unit aline or a series of cold adhesive spots and at the second unit a line ora series of hot adhesive spots which are located in the spaces in theline of cold spots obtained in the first unit. On a still furtherrevolution these spots come in contact with .the end portion of the toplabel whereby the can picks up and carries it forward rolling it aboutthe can.

When the can having a label wound around it in this way and secured asto its pickup end by means of adhesive obtained from the units 9 andIll, or from one of them as may be elected, it rolls v forwardly andcomes in contact with or rolls over the pressing pad l2. This pad is animportant feature of the present invention either separately from orcombined with the features described, particularly the flexible discsfor applying adhesive. The pad is shown in plan in Fig. 3, and

in perspective and insection in Fig. 9. In Fig.

75 it is shown in perspective, and as cut away on a transverse plane inFig. 11 being shown in section on the line H II in Fig. 10.

The pressing pad I! is mounted on a suitable support 60 which is adaptedtobe secured to and between the side frames in any suitable manner, ears6| with suitable perforations being shown in Fig. 10 for this purpose.The pad in the preferred form of the invention is composed of spongerubber and is slitted or grooved longitudinally or in accordance withany desired pattern, the slits or grooves being shown at 62 in Figs. 10and 11 and also inFig. 9, the pad grooved or slitted in this waycomprises strips of sponge rubber or similar material which are highlyresilient and yield to the best advantage conforming in all instances tothe contour of the surfaces of the panelledor indented cans and likewiseconforming to the surface of any can which it may be desired to label.

A further important feature of the invention as to the pad resides inmeans for maintaining practically prevents the adhesive from becomingattached to the pad, thus overcoming an important difficulty due to theaccumulation and drying of adhesive on the pad which causes the labelsto adhere to the pad and pull off from the can.

The means for supplying moisture to the surface of the pad in thepresent machine has taken the form of D a wick or wicks 64 which dip attheir lower ends into a reservoir 65 and are passed upwardly through asuitable aperture in the center of the pad which is shown as of doublethickness and is split at the top into two arms or bands shown asprojecting laterallyalong the top surface of the pad, said arms or bandsbeing indicated by reference characters 66 66'. Any suitable means formaintaining a full supply of water to the surface of the pad may beused. A gauze casing l2 may be employed to distribute the water.

It is of particular importance in connection with supplying moisture tothe pad that it serves to wet the label on the side opposite theadhesive whereby both sides of the label are uniformly moistened, anddry with substantial uniformity preventing curling.

The flexible rollers for pickup adhesive and the highly resilient padhave particular application to the afllxing of labels to indented orcollapsed or concave cans. A further provision of the invention havingparticular application to the conform to the contour of the cans'whichare thus indented whereby close adhesion of the labels at this point isattained,-it being understood that great difficulty has been encounteredat this point in the operation of labeling such cans on account of theconcavity of the cans and the failure of the labels to contact at thetransverse centers of their pickup ends and the ,consequent failure ofthe labels to closely adhere at their pickup ends so that the machinelabeling of such cans has not been satisfactory.

For this purpose comparatively thinpacks of labels which may be abouttwo inches in thickness are generally used.

In Fig. 3 we have shown inplan, and in Figs.

15, 16, and 1'7, we have shown in detail, in plan, end elevation, andside'elevation respectively a label table equipped with a verticallyadjustable center plate 90 which is a novel feature of the presentinvention. The plates 90, plates 9|, 92 not being part of the invention,are of thin metal, preferably about forty one-thousandths of an inchthick, and they are riveted to the table at their rear ends at 93. Thefront ends of these plates, 1. e., the ends adjacent the infeed end ofthe machine are supported by set screws or thumb screws 94, Strand 96respectively, which are threaded upwardly through table II.

The center plate 90 is shown in Fig. 16 as adjusted upwardly to asatisfactory operative position for the indented can which is shownrolling over the pack. This adjustment causes the labels, including thetop label, to bendupwardly at the transverse center of the pick up endand by proper adjustment of set screw 94 conformation of the pickup endsof the labels to the contour of the cans being labeled is attained.Plates 9| and 92 may be adjusted to give a different contour to thelabels.

Fig. .3 shows the, label pack in top plan and in connection therewith itshows the knives 10 in the usual form in which they have become afixture in this art. Diifi'culty has been encountered with theseknlvesbecause of their tendency at times to cut through the top labelsof the pack, and when thus out, the labels are released and becomedisplaced and are irregularly afiixed on the cans, giving a defectivelabeling operation.

In, accordance with the present invention, the

knives have been supplemented by'fingers 11,

these fingers are shown in detail in Figs. 12. and 13, being supported,in the form of the invention shown, on the label guide plate 12 or anysuitable support at the sides of the label pack.

The resilient finger assemblies I5, in the form shown, are provided withhelical springs I6, and comprise rounded fingers or finger ends 11, thesprings being supported by studs 18. The stud 18 is threaded at itsouterend. This end is threadedly engaged in the'spring I6, and the fingerends 'I'I are likewise threaded as to their shanks at 19 and thethreaded portion is threadedly engaged within the spring at the outerend of the latter. The finger assemblies 15 are secured to uprightbrackets there being two of these fingers, in the form of the machineshown, one adjacent each front knife, i. e., corresponding to the cornerportions of the top label. vEach said bracket is indicated by referencecharacter 19, the brackets are secured to the label guide casing 12 bymeans of screws 80, each of which engages a slot 8| in the plate orbracket 19, thus providing for vertical adjustment of the brackets andthe fingers I in accordance with the height of the label pack. Eachfinger I5 is secured to its bracket 19 in a suitable manner as threadingthe stud 18 through the bracket and securing it by means of a lock nut82, and the fingers extend through suitable holes in label pack guideplates 85.

The flexible fingers 15 overlying the top label of the pack provide ayielding engagement which holds the label and prevents the release ofthe same when it is cut by the knife and yields freely upwardly when thelabel is withdrawn by the can in the pickup operation. It will beunderstood that any suitable type of flexible finger may be substitutedfor the form shown though the details described and illustrated are ofimportance as defining a highly satisfactory type of finger for thispurpose.

The operation of the machine has been fully described in the preambleand in the description of the drawings.

The words can and cylindrical package, as used herein are appliedalternatively and without distinction to cans or other packages capableof being advanced by rolling, thus passing in operative relation withthe various elements of the machine. I

We have thus described a machine embodying the invention in thepreferred form, the description being specific and in detail in orderthat the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using theinvention may be fully understood, however, while the preferred form hasbeen described specifically and in detail, numerous variations andchanges of design are contemplated within the spirit of this disclosureand the specific terms herein are used in a descriptive rather than in alimiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for labeling cylindrical packages, the same being of thetype in which the packages are passed through the machine by rollingalong 'a predetermined path, and which machine is provided with asupport for a label pack in pick up relation to said path, means in thepath of the packages and beneath the same in advance of said labelsupport comprising a hot adhesive applying unit and a cold adhesiveapplying unit, spaced means in each unit the means plying adhesive fromsaid units to the passing packages providing alternate areas of hot andcold adhesive arranged along the can or package in parallelism with theaxis.

2. In a can labeling machine, the combination of hot and cold adhesiveapplying units, said adhesive applying units having paste applyingrollers each comprising a; series of spaced discs, the discs in therespective unitsbeing spaced and alternately placed whereby theyareadapted to apply to each package alternate spots of the hot and coldadhesive.

3. In a machine for labeling cylindrical packages, the machine being ofthe type in which the packages are rolled through the machine on apredetermined path, and in which there is a label support in operativerelation to said path, two pickup adhesive spotting units in the path ofthe packages,and in advance of said label pack, the adhesive spottingunits being adapted to apply respectively a. permanent and a quickacting adhesive one said unit having means for retaining and applying aslow setting permanent adhesive and the other. said unit having meansfor retaining and applying a quick acting adhesive.

4. In a can labeling machine for cylindrical cans to be fed by rollingand adapted to label collapsed and indented cans, a roller for applyingpickup adhesive to the cans, the same consisting of a plurality ofresilient discs and means for securing the same in spaced relation onthe roller shaft.

-5. In a can labeling machine for cylindrical cans to be fed by rollingand adapted to label collapsed and indented cans, a roller for applyingpickup adhesive, the same consisting of resilient discs and means forsecuring the same in spaced relation on the adhesive applying rollershaft,

said resilient discs being apertured to give them the maximum ofresiliency 6. In a can labeling machine of the type in which the cansare rolled through the machine over the labels, a roller for applyingpickup adhesive; the said roller consisting of a plurality of resilientdiscs and a support therefor and means yielding and resilientproperties.

8. In a machine of the can rolling pickup type for labeling cans, inwhich there is a support for a label pack, a pressing pad of rubber likematerial, beyond the label pack, and means for sup- .plying moisture tothe surface of the pad conthe point of presentation of the labels andmeans upper surface of the pad,

. pickup type, in label pack in the path of the cans, a label pressingpad in the path of the cans beyond the label pack,

tinuously in the operation of the machine to prevent the accumulation ofadhesive thereon and serving to wet the label on the side opposite theadhesive.

9. In a machine of the can rolling pickup type for labeling cans, inwhich there is a support for a label pack, a label pressing pad beyondthe label pack the same having a wick with a source of moistureconnected to the wick, the wick being connected oppositely to saidsource to the for supplying moisture to the surface of the padcontinuously in the operation of the machine.

10. In a can labeling machine of the can rolling which there is asupport for a and means for continually moistening the surface of thepad throughout the operation of the machine.

11. In a can labeling machine of. the can rolling label pickup typedescribed, in which there is a support for a label pack in the path ofthe cans, of a pickup paste applying roller composed of soft yieldingresilient material adapted to conform to the surfaces of irregularlyshaped and noncylindrical cans.

12. In a can labeling machine of the can rolling label pickup type, thesame having a support for presenting labels, a label pressing pad,beyond for continually moistening the surface of the pad throughout theoperation.

13. A label table for a can labeling machine of the can rolling labelpickup type, means for holding the labels in position on this tablecomprising resiliently mounted fingers and. means whereby said fingersare supported above the table at the sides of the same and adapted toextend over the top label of the pack near the frontend of the table. I

14. A labeltable for a machine for labeling cans, the same being of the.can rolling label pickup type, and means for holding the labels inposition on the table comprising resilient fingers and means wherebysaid fingers are supported at the sidesoi thetable and spaced above thesame and adapted to extend over the top label of the pack, said fingerseach comprising spring means and a finger end supported on one end ofthe spring and a stud supporting the other end of the spring.

15. A label table for a machine for labeling cans, the machine being ofthe type in which the cans are presented by rolling through the machineand over a label pack on the table, said table having means for holdingthe labels in position on this table comprising flexible fingers andmeans whereby said fingers are supported at the sides of the table andspaced above the same, said fingers being adapted to extend over the toplabel of the pack, said fingers each comprising a spring, and a fingerend supported on one end of the spring and means supporting the otherend of the spring, the finger end being threaded into the spring theintermediate portions of the spring being free to fiex whereby it yieldsupwardly as new labels are inserted in the pack and follows the toplabel downwardly as the labels are withdrawn.

16. In a label table for a machine for labeling cans, the said machinebeing ofthe can rolling,

label pickup type flexible fingers, means whereby said fingers aresupported at the sides of the label pack and spaced above the table andadapted to extend over the top label of the pack, each of said fingerscomprising a spring, and stationary means supporting the other end ofthe spring, the finger being threaded into one end of the spring, andthe stud being threaded into the other end of the spring.

17. The method of labeling cylindrical packages which consists inrolling them along. a predetermined path, presenting a quick acting anda permanent adhesive to said cans, partially coating a pickup area ofeach said package with each said adhesive and presenting a label pack inthe path of said packages beyond the point of coating with said adhesiveand in pickup relation to the path of the package.

18. The method of labeling cylindrical packages which are rolled inpickup relation with a label pack which comprises applying a pickup areaof quick adhesive and an adjacent pickup area of permanent adhesive.

19. In a machine for labeling cylindrical pack ages of the type in whichthe cans are rolled through the machine and there is a support for alabel pack in the path of the packages, two

pickup adhesive applying units in the path of the packages at the frontend of the machine, the

adhesive applying units being adapted to apply respectively a hot and acold adhesive and being mounted for adjustment in the direction of thelength of the runway and means operable. at the will of the operator forcovering each pickup adhesive unit rendering "it inoperative wherebyeither unit may be employed to the exclusion of the other.

20. In a machine for labeling cylindrical cans or packages, the samebeing of thetype in which the cans are advanced by rolling and in whichthere is a label support fora pack of labels in the path of the cans,pickup adhesive applying means at the front end of the runway adapted toapply adhesive to indented cans, the label table having at its pickupend, near the lateral center, adjustable means for elevating the lateralcenters of the pickup ends of the labels and means for completing theattachment of the. labels to i the cans.

there is a support for labels in the path of the erable at the will ofthe operator for rendering packages, two pickup adhesive applying unitsin each of the adhesive applying units inoperative the path of thepackages at the front end of the whereby either unit may be employed tothe ex-, machine, the adhesive applying units being adaptclusion of theother.

ed to apply respectively a hot and a cold adhesive CHARLES H. WILD. andbeing mounted for adjustment in the direc- CLIFFORD H. NEER. tion of thelength of the runway and means op-

